Announcing Defending Rights & Dissent!

When the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Defending Dissent Foundation merged a year ago, we knew we would also need a new name.

We’re not the kind of organization to spend lots of money hiring a PR firm, hosting focus groups, or conducting public polling to determine our new “brand.” Given the gravity of today’s myriad civil liberty battles, we’re just too busy raising hell and defending of our Constitution; we’d rather spend our money on grassroots organizing and education.

So, when it came time to decide on a new name, our staff and board of directors looked to the most important words in our previous names: Rights and Dissent. Both organizational missions (and names) were committed to defending these ideas, as reflected in Defense Committee from BORDC, and Defending from DDF. We wanted our new name integrate this powerful lineage, but also to reflect the need today for action. And we knew it when we had it: Defending Rights & Dissent. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.

Next step: a logo! We are known for speaking truth to power. We amplify the voices of individuals and grassroots partners fighting to fulfill the promise of the Bill of Rights. Our mantra and oft-used closing salutation of our correspondence is Stay Loud, Stay Strong. So we loved the idea of a megaphone – which also symbolizes our physical on-the-ground presence. We are not just an online entity that asks people to sign petitions, or an inside-the-Beltway organization that gets suited up for meetings. We are also in the streets organizing, and in the halls of power advocating for liberty.

We’re proud of our history, and pleased to expand upon the tremendous legacy of both the Bill of Rights Defense Committee and Defending Dissent Foundation! Our new name and logo reflect these goals.